6 Baosteel staff joined China 26th expedition to the Antarctica

Monday, 19 Oct 2009

In the morning of October 11th colored flags were fluttering drumbeat and music were loud in the domestic base of Chinese Antarctica Expedition in Waigaoqiao, Pudong, Shanghai. Amid the blast of whistle, China 26th Expedition to the Antarctica aboard the icebreaker Xuelong left Shanghai to start the expedition of conquering Antarctica. On board are 6 Baosteel employees as the first batch of the members of the expedition.

China 26th Expedition to the Antarctica consists of 251 members, more than the members of any previous expedition since China launched its first expedition to Antarctica in 1984. Within over 180 days of the exploration, the expedition will complete 59 tasks of scientific research. In addition to the conventional scientific research and logistics guarantee in Changcheng Station and Zhongshan Station, the expedition will focus on the scientific research in Kunlun Station and Grove Mountains, therefore the expedition shoulders the heaviest task in China's history of scientific research in Antarctica.

In order to support China scientific research in Antarctica, Baosteel has dispatched staff to join the scientific research in Antarctica for many times and built the first inland science investigation station, Kunlun Station in ice dome A, the iced peak of Antarctic inland. This time, Baosteel again dispatched 15 staff in batches to undertake the tasks including maintenance of phase 1 construction projects and preparation for phase 2 construction projects of Kunlun Station and renovation of Changcheng Station. They will also cooperate with the scientific researchers to complete construction of 15 capabilities for Changcheng Station as well as the preparatory work of the drilling of deep ice core.

China 26th Expedition to the Antarctica undertakes long duration of work, heavy tasks and high requirements and the living and working environment are very abominable. In the site of departure, Mr Zhou Dingfu, the employee of Baosteel Metal Light Steel Buiding Company who will starts his second journey to the Antarctica said excitedly "I'm lucky to be able to go to the Antarctica again on behalf of Baosteel and contribute a bit to China scientific research in Antarctica". The members from Baosteel all expressed that, despite of the extremely adverse working and living environments in the Antarctica as well as the more onerous tasks undertaken, they will try their best to live up to the mission and accomplish various tasks successfully.